LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMEEICA. 



Sweet Alyssum 



POEMS 



BY 



Margaret A. Logan 





BUFFALO 

CHARLES WELLS MOULTON 

1894 



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X. 



PS 2Z^^ 



Copyright, 
1894, 
By MARGARET A. LOGAN. 



Printed by 

Charles Wells Moulton, 

Buffalo, N. Y. 



TO 
MY BROTHER AND SISTER, 
REV. NO WELL LOGAN, D. D., 

AND 

KA THARINE MA C NEIL L O GAN, 

THIS BOOK 

IS LO VINGL Y DEDICA TED. 



CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

A Dream in the Desert 9 

The Little Green Dress 17 

Sunrise 19 

At Sunset Time 21 

Ariadne 22 

The First Foot 24 

By the Old Mill 26 

In. Mexico 28 

Blue Innocents 30 

The Resurection Flower 31 

October 33 

Alexander and Jaddua 34 

The White Robe 37 

Under the Baobab 39 

Two Spinners 41 

Success 43 

Through Leafless Boughs 44 

The Organ 45 

River Murmurs . 49 

The Revenge of the Cray-Fish .50 

The Steamboat Race 54 

Roche A Davion 57 

The Broken Arrows 59 



vi CONTENTS. 

A Cherokee Rose 62 

SoEUR Marguerite 63 

The Joggling-Board 66 

The China Tree 69 

Our Margaret 71 

The Angel of Gethsemane 74 

For My Dear Love 75 

Sub Rosa 76 

A Mistake 77 

The Lost Magnificat ' 78 

The Winning Way 81 

Pharaoh's Daughter 83 

Lizzie's Picture 85 

The Ride 86 

Michaelmas . 87 

"The Witness of Nineveh" 90 

Sea-shore Camp-meeting 93 

In Memoriam 96 

Wade Hampton's Dream 98 

Tardy 100 

Dissection .101 

The Silent Bell 102 

Music 104 



SWEET AL YSSUM, 

LOW border plant that forms such fair enclose 

For our gay annual beds, or garden rows, 

* Neath summer suns we view with calm, delight 

Thy tiny flowerets, honeyed tufts of white; 

And in thy leaves ^twas said there dwelt some power 

To soothe the maddened soul. A blessid dower. 



A DREAM IN THE DESERT. 



( Abouasan, an aged Arabian, and Pharandaces, 
a young Persian, are on the road approaching an 
oasis). 

Pharandaces: 

NAY, friend, I owned some charm in desert life 
At early morn, when yonder mountains threw 
From their bald heads broad shadows to the base; 
Or yester eve, when all the warm winds blew, 
Moving the sand like some soft swell at sea. 

Abouasan: 
Ah! now 'tis changed indeed. 

Pharandaces: 

Now, not the scant shade of o'er hanging rock; 
And, here, the sand ridge-rolled as outcast field, 
There, smooth as surf-beat shore or shingly beach, 
That makes more tense this glare of quivering light. 
Still, too, so still! No partridge heard to whirr, 
Nor bark of jackal as he scours the plain. 
No eagle flies its cloudland home to reach, 
Only the vultures in broad circles sweep 
Scenting the bones of some dead caravan. 



lo SWEE T AL YSSUM. 

Abouasan: 

See here a crack in this straight ledge of rock. 
It marks the entrance to some wady washed 
By mountain stream. Take heart! there's herbage 
near. 

Pharandaces: 

And water, water, wherewith I may still 
My patient dromedary's piteous moan. 
I'll sponge his nostrils there, before I lave 
My^own sun-blistered lips, and give him fare 
Other than camel-thorn ere I repose, 

( They enter the ravine afid descend a few steps). 

Abouasan: 

'Tis as we thought. Behold green islands fringed • 
With arrowy rush! 

Pharandaces: 
But water, where ? 

Abouasan: 

Where grows yon royal palm amid the waste, 
Rearing its head in lonely majesty. 

Pharandaces: 

Voices I hear. Right welcome company! 

Abouasan: 

This is the way that Sheba should return. 

Some moons have waned since, westward, here she 

passed 
Seeking the great king at Jerusalem. 



A DREAM IN THE DESER T. ii 

Pharandaces: 
And didst thou see that wondrous train indeed, 
And Yemen's queen, Balkis, the fair, the wise? 

Abouasan: 
A thousand odors filled the astonished air 
Sickened so late by vulture's carrion breath. 
Balsam and cinnamon, myrrh, frankincense. 
And India's almug-tree their fragrance blent 
While in the sunlight many a jewel shone, 
With Ophir's gold. And men, and camels all 
In richest cloths were decked; finest e'er wrought 
In India's famous looms, patterns most intricate 
Such as thy country weaves; And then the queen ! 

Pharandaces: 
Aye, Aye, the queen! 

Abouasan: 
Have patience, youth! She mid her maidens rode 
Like Persian pearl. More bright than all the stones 
That break the sunbeam in their lucid rounds. 
Perfect she seems, from instep's high-arched curve. 
To eyes soul lighted, whose unveiled beams 
Outshine Arcturus or Orion's band. 
Proud stepped her camel, white, of Syrian breed, 
Beneath her royal weight, and sweetly chimed 
The silver bells that spanned his slender throat. 

Pharandaces: 
In truth thou lovest the stars, and, loverlike. 
Dost paint thy youthful queen, Abouasan. 

Abouasan: 
She is the daughter of our race and reigns 
No less in Yemen's hearts than o'er its homes. 



12 SWEET AL YSSUM. 

See there the tent upon the unbroken sward; 
We will approach the men and share their salt. 

( While they are welcomed and refresh themselves ^ 
the tent opens and the Queen of Sheba is seen con- 
versing with Keturah, her favorite handmaid). 

Keturah: 
Then, thou wilt never wed ? 

Balkis: 

It may be, when more wisdom I have gained 

Sonve fitting mate I shall consent to choose, 

But love — speak not of that! For when there fell 

Upon my brow the burden of a crown, 

In that same hour I solemnly forswore 

All selfish ties, all narrow household joys. 

Keturah: 
I think my mother has the blame of this. 

Balkis: 
My much-loved nurse! Of Hebrew lineage she, 
And oft to us their legends would recount, 
Rebecca's wooing thy most favored theme. 
But I chose Miriam's triumphant song 
Or Deborah's glorious chant of victory; 
And then I longed to be a prophetess. 

Keturah: 

So, when their great king's fame had reached thine 
ears, — 

Balkis: 

I might not stay; but, maiden, speak no more, 
Draw close the curtain. Let me rest awhile. 



A DREAM IN THE DESERT, 13 

{^She sleeps, then starts up suddenly and calls her 

maids). 

Balkis: 

Oh! I have dreamed a dream, strange, beautiful! 
Would that there were some learned Magi near. 

Kkturah : 

Abouasan and a fair Persian youth, 
Pharandaces, are now within the camp. 

Balkis: 
Haste; spread my carpets, I will sit without. 

{A throne is arranged beneath the palm and when 
the strangers have been presented to the queen she 
narrates her dream). 

Balkis: 

Alone, I was, amidst yon waste of sand 
Weary my feet and seared with thirst my tongue; 
I could have died with weariness and pain. 
When, lo! a distant cloud, a caravan! 
And, on a nearer view, they all were kings 
That camels rode, white like my Syrian there; 
Of every nation on this star-watched earth. 
And weary seemed they as of hopeless quest. 
Then came a voice, borne to me from within, 
" A little Child shall lead them," and forthwith 
A shout arose: "The Star! The Star! The Star!" 
Loud was it echoed through that kingly throng. 
In the clear sky of noon no sign appeared 
And, yet, towards one point all eyes were bent; 
'Twas in the west where the great temple stands. 



14 SWEET AL YSSUM. 

Soon were they fled, for e'en the camels roused 
From Hstless plodding stirred to gain that spot. 
Then, but a western cloud, to me, appeared, 
Far as the eastward, I had seen before. 

Abouasan: 

Strange dream, indeed! 

Balkis: 

All not yet told, for as these onward moved 
A mellow glow, such as our Yemen knows. 
Displaced the fiery glare; and gently fell 
A healing dew o'er all the parched ground, 
So that the very thorns did bud and bloom 
And bring forth full-blown roses, such as deck 
Thy Persia's fairest plains, Pharandaces. 

Pharandaces: 

A happy omen be thy beauteous dream, 
And flowers e'er spring around thy royal way! 

Balkis: 
Canst thou speak aught of this, Abouasan ? 

Abouasan: 

Queen well-beloved, thou dost thy lineage trace 

From Sheba, worshipper of yonder sun; 

All happy stars presided at thy birth, 

But wisdom's planet crowned thy horoscope! 

I met the famous magi of our land 

When, reading thence thy future, they foretold, 

Thou shouldst all women far excel in this 

The love of learning, and thy name should be 

Through ages known as. Seeker of the truth. 



A DREAM IN THE DESERT. 15 

Balkis: 
So have I heard, but this reads not my dream. 

Abouasan: 
Spake not the great king of Messiah's reign ? 

Balkis: 

Full oft, and in their sacred books 'tis said 
Some Son of Solomon shall rule the world, 
A greater yet than he. 

Abouasan: 

Wiser as child than he the wisest king; 
Glorious with glory earth ne'er dreamed before; 
Drawing the nations all with wondrous power, 
Even as Solomon, by fame, hath drawn 
Thee from thy home in Araby the Blest. 

Keturah: 

And so thy memory of these Hebrew tales. 
Yon oleander, bright as Sharon's rose. 
And all the leagues thou didst so wearily 
Tread through the burning sand — 

Balkis: 
Nay! nay! some dreams be only fancies wove 
From waking hours. This, I believe 
Was sent me by the stars. Go, bring thy lute, 
And maidens, sing that Temple song that speaks 
The advent of some king. 

{Keturah sings). 

Lift up your heads ye gates! 

The King of Glory waits to enter in. 

{Other maidens rejoin). 

Who is this king that waits to enter in ? 



i6 SWEE T AL YSSUM. 

{Keturah). 

The Lord of hosts the conqueror of sin 
Lift up your heads ye gates! 

' Chorus. 

Lift up your heads! Lift up your heads! 
Lift up your heads ye gates! 

{Keturah). 
Be ye lift up ye everlasting doors! 

{Maidens). 

And who is he that entrance now implores ? 

{Keturah). 

The Prince of Peace whom heaven and earth adores. 
Lift up your heads, ye gates! 

Chorus. 

Lift up your heads! Lift up your heads! 
Lift up your heads, ye gates! 

Balkis: 

The Prince of Peace! He cometh as a child; 
The Lord of host, strong, mighty to prevail. 
Oh! may he haste, indeed, to enter in 
And bring the, nation's wisdom, safety, peace. 

{All join in the chorus until the very rocks re- 
sound). 

Lift up your heads! Lift up your heads! 
Lift up your heads, ye gates! 



THE LITTLE GREEN DRESS. 17 



THE LITTLE GREEN DRESS. 

SOON will melt the ice and snow, 
Soon the buds begin to blow, 
And the birdies will be building as they sing; 
Then a new dress made with care 
Must my little girlie wear. 
Fresh and fair is she as any flower of spring. 

Come, my maidie, tell to me 

Of what color it shall be, 
White like daisies with their pale pink rim, 

Or like the violets blue. 

Or the yellow cups that strew 
The bank beside the babbling brooklet's brim ? 

She will have a robe of green. 

So declares my tiny queen. 
Six springtimes has my little girlie known, 

But last year she first, alas! 

Watched the creeping of the grass 
Until all the bare, brown earth was overgrown. 

Then she thought that tender green. 

Sweetest color she had seen; 
So, green shall be the dress she is to wear. 

To the town I soon must go, 

Soon as melts the winter snow. 
And a pretty gingham, green, I'll buy her there. 



i8 SWEET ALYSSUM. 

There's no flake of snow around; 

Frost and ice have left the ground; 
Snow, frost and ice are all within my heart, 

For, before the daisies smiled, 

Death came and claimed my child; 
And from me now, will winter ne'er depart. 

There, within the orchard shade, 

They a tiny hillock made; 
Then, quickly crept the grass and clothed it o'er, 
^ Clinging like a soft caress; 

And this was the green dress 
The dress of green my precious baby wore. 

Yet, sweet dreams will come to me; 

Oft, in visions, I can see 
Wondrous light, and hear a wondrous song; 

Then my frozen heart will thaw, 

For in dreaming, thus, I saw 
A white robed child amid a shining throng. 



SUNRISE. 19 



SUNRISE. 



MID rugged hills before the break of day, 
A vale below, above, the mist-crowned height, 
My roan and I had, darkling, picked our way 
'Till dawn's first glow shut in the stars of night. 



Quick, then, began o'er mountain top to float, 
That field of mist. Here pale, there dark, it broke; 

In wondrous forms, where on their outlines smote 
The hidden beam, touched with a light that spoke 

Of lingering glory. Soon, those cloud-built forms 
Brought to my mind the sun-myths of all lands, 

That vaguely mirror how our dear Lord rose, 
Shone the true Light, and loosened death's dark 
bands. 



Majestic pillars now old Norse gods seem; 

In converse deep resolve they how to wake 
Balder, the bright one; and yon dazzling gleam, 

Is wave of Siegfried's sword. With one wild shake 



Of every fiery mane, far upward spring, 
Apollo's coursers, who drag in the day. 

Here mounts Bellerophon; each heavenly wing, 
Pegasus spreads to bear him to the fray. 



20 SWEE T AL YSSUM. 

Where light with darkness strives, and find we there, 
England's St. George whose dragon dread lies 
slain, 

Though from the carcass living heads uprear 
While he fights on and gives no stroke in vain. 

A serpent coiled doth wake to sudden bound, 
My startled steed. This brings me to the Nile, 

The winged sun-disk this reptile twines around, 
Held sacred there, with us the type of guile. 

Assyria next; Shamar at last has freed 
Ishtar the fair from all the powers of hell; 

So through the nations runs the self-same creed. 
I wake from dreams at sound of chapel bell. 

Of pealing bells. For now the sun's first ray 
Gilds yonder village cross; it shines in scorn. 

Of faiths less pure. New flowers bloom on the way 
And birds sing blithely, " This is Easter Morn." 



A T SUNSE T TIME. 21 



A' 



AT SUNSET TIME. 

T sunset time, 

Give me no noisy, bustling crowd around, 
Give me no giddy mirth nor jarring sound; 
For I would then be silent and alone, 
Or with me take some friend whose spirit's tone 
In sympathy would chime. 

It matters not the clime; 
Whether that glory linger on the crest 
Of snow-wreathed hills, or, in soft blushes rest 
On mountain lake, or from that splendor break 
Clouds red and gold, the artist soul to wake 

Or gem the poet's rhyme. 

It whispers faith sublime 
Of suns not lost, but rising on some shore 
Unknown. Of loved ones gone before. 
Of endless dawn from shade of earth e'er free. 
Let me not miss that message writ for me 

At sunset time! 



22 SWEE T AL YSSUM. 



ARIADNE. 

5 nn WAS years ago, in Rome, I had this dream. 
1 'Mid its dark catacombs I groped, led by the 
gleam 
From one pale torch held in my nervous grasp. 
While closer still my right hand sought to clasp 
The coil of string, that slender backward guide 
To light and air. Now, soon on every side 

Strange sights I saw. Such heaps of dead men's 

bones 
And grinning skulls; I fancied dying groans 
And visions saw of martyrs at the stake; 
Reading some scrolls, I sudden turned to take 
The path that once to an old chapel led. 
There my foot slipped — and lost, my guiding thread ! 

Oh, agony! thus living chained to death! 
I cursed and prayed, all in one quivering breath. 
The skulls still grinned, they seemed to understand. 
I groped and groped, but only grasped the sand. 
The torch burned low as every path was tried; 
Some low, some high, some narrow and some wide. 

At last one led me to an open space 
Where the old altar stood, and there a face. 
An angel face from out the dim light shone. 
And resting near it on the hallowed stone 
Lay my lost thread. Oh, joy, like a new birth! 
Again to see the sun, and warm green earth! 



ARIADNE. 23 

Not all a dream. In labyrinth as dire, 

Of aims confused and uncontrolled desire, 

I wandered long and seemed e'er doomed to grope; 

No outward clue, lost to all higher hope; 

Then shone the angel face, 'twas thine, my wife, 

I found through thee the lost thread of my life! 



24 SWEET ALYSSUM, 



THE FIRST FOOT. 

A BONNIE lass at the ingle sits, 
The Old Year is almost dead; 
Nimbly, as by the blaze she knits, 

Her needles throw off the thread. 
The night is cold and the sky is dark, 
"And the wind is wailing sore; 
But 'tis New Year's Eve, and the maid must mark 
The first foot to cross her door. 

" Rest, Jeanie, dear, for the hour is late: 

How the wind doth moan and sigh! " 
" Mother, come knit beside me and wait 

Till we see the Old Year die. 
My lover true will then come to me, 

My love from the Sol way shore; 
This word he has sent, that his own shall be 

The first-foot to cross my door." 

"True, Jean, the auld wives say that ill 

Or good, for the coming year, 
Will follow the one who o'er the sill 

First steps. But the night is drear. 
He can never brave this wind and rain, 

So rest, now, and rise before 
The day well dawns. When you listen again 

Your first foot may cross the door. ' ' 

*' Knit with me," still the maiden said — 
Together they watch and wait; 



THE FIRST FOOT 25 

The cuckoo-clock sounds twelve o'erhead, 

And her lover is at the gate. 
"Ah, now," cried Jean, " there's no ill to fear, 

Good luck is for us in store; 
Since my lover has braved the night so drear, 

The first foot to cross our door." 



26 SWEET AL YSSUM. 



BY THE OLD MILL. 

MEET sovereign seemed she of that rural place, 
For flower and stream had lent her every grace; 
As the fair foam, her face and neck were pure. 
Tho' each soft cheek the Azalia's blushes wore, 
The jasmine's hue was in her flowing hair, 
And many a playful sunbeam, sporting near, 
Burnished its gold; her eyes of tender gray 
Shone clearer than the water's crystal spray, 
Sweet violets pressing forth her steps to greet 
Less dainty seemed beside her dainty feet: 
Some bird had taught her its melodious note. 
For as I gazed, sweet strains began to float, 
By gentle breezes borne the banks along. 
And this, the burden of the maiden's song: 

Ripple bright water, ripple and splash. 

Over the busy wheel; 
Then to the greenwood merrily dash. 

Through ferny thickets steal; 
Flow on, flow on, to the fay-queen's bower 

Under the hawthorn tree, 
And ask of her elfin grace the power 

To bring a true lover to me; 
To me, to me, to me, 

To bring a true lover to me. 

For this is the merry month of May, 

A time when every bird 
Is seeking to name its wedding day. 

Their wooings sweet I've heard; 



By THE OLD MILL. 27 

E'en the cawing crow begins to coo 

Soft as the turtle-dove, 
And I, with the birds, am waiting too, 

For some one to whisper love; 
Love! love! love! 

For some one to whisper love! 

She paused, and ere the strain so tender sweet 

Died on the enchanted air, her tiny feet 

Had left the mourning violets all alone, 

And from my heart earth's brightness too had flown. 



28 SIVEE T AL YSSUM. 



IN MEXICO. 

T WANDERED to-night, in Mexico, 

1 While waiting for you; see, 'tis half past ten. 

"And what did I find there ? " 

Come, listen, then. 
I saw those mountains that snow-crowned stand, 
And the Aztec city — 'twas not so grand 
As Prescott paints — and the lakes around. 
And I saw Cholula, that ancient mound. 

I saw mesquite groves, lime and orange bowers, 

Cacti, orchids and lilies, the rarest flowers; 

Juan doffed his broidered sombrero, 

And Juanita folded her mantle so 

That her charms I guessed from one glimpse, alone; 

Like stars through the dawn her dark eyes shone. 

There were houses of stone with walls quite thick. 

And others of adobe, a sundried brick. 

I saw feather-work, and pearl-carvings rare, 

Fire-opals and onyx; and sitting there, 

I played at curveta, a gambling game 

For women; our lotto is much the same. 

I drank goat's milk and ate peppery meat, 
Tamalis called, and then, nueces sweet. 
Cheese made from the fruit of the prickly pear, 
And tortillas, a bread they from corn prepare, 



IN MEXICO. 29 

Soaked in water and lime and ground quite fine; 
Then I took just a sip of Maguey wine, 
That famous pulque. A magic glass, 
Scare drunk ere heroes began to pass. 

I saw, by his men, Montezuma shot, 

And Guatimozin tortured, yet murmuring not; 

I witnessed their dread sacrificial feasts; 

Saw Cortes, Las Casas, viceroys and priests; 

" Remember the Alamo! " heard the Texans cry 

As the Stars and Stripes swiftly floated by; 

'Twas Taylor, and Quitman, and Twiggs and Scott, 
Who bore them along, and they faltered not 
Until gained were the heights of Chapultepec; 
Then the Aztecs hastened their land to deck 
For an Austrian prince who had come to reign; 
Soon, soon did the star of his empire wane. 

I saw him shot, and Carlotta's sigh, 

Borne over the ocean, seemed wafted nigh. 

That broke the spell, I was only here 

Wondering at your lohg absence, dear. 

And I smiled when I thought you'd be pleased to 

know 
How I wandered to-night in Mexico. 

" How did I get there ? " You heard the band 
Playing to-night at their usual stand. 
Strange! is it not? that a well-tuned string, 
Or a tube well-voiced, has such power to bring 
A spell o'er the wondrous realm of thought. 
Until visions appear, uncalled, unsought. 
And as fancy bids, we rove to and fro, 
So, I wandered to -night in Mexico. 



30 SIVEE T AL YSSUM. 



BLUE INNOCENTS. 

GRAY in the sky, slow moving clouds of gray; 
Bare all the trees, save where in clusters clung 
The forest vampire, gray-green mistletoe, 
Or where the long gray moss in garlands swung 
From lofty limb to leaf-strewn walk below, 
By the wild winter wind tossed to and fro. 

So weeks of gloom, then in a happier day 
The red-bud dreamed of spring, and purpling, 
threw 
Its roseate boughs athwart the forest brown; 
The gladsome sunbeams gave a silvery hue 
To the sad moss, and on the turfy down 
Houstonia came, its fairy knolls to crown. 

Parting four petals, each a sapphire ray. 
All set between with little golden eyes. 

'Tis well called Innocence, the dainty flower, 
So like an infant, as it dreaming lies 
On mother's breast, waked by a sudden shower 
Of kisses soft and warm, the baby's dower. 



THE RESURRECTION FLOWER. 31 



THE RESURRECTION FLOWER. 

NEAR that curst city compassed round 
By Israel's host, till at the sound 
Of trumpet blast it fell; 
I stood upon the shingly shore, 
A western wind from Bethlehem bore 
The sound of convent bell. 

Far distant, shone the sapphire sea. 
But here, more welcome sight to me, 

The pearly Jordan rolled; 
For, by its banks, the Son of God, 
With human feet, had often trod 

In blessed days of old. 

An Arab chief was resting near. 
Wafting away the clouds of care 

In wreaths of fragrant smoke; 
"Abu," I said, " what thinkest thou? 
Is there a God? ' ' With placid brow, 

The shiek his silence broke. 

" My brother, truly hast thou said 
There is a God, ' ' he bowed his head. 

"Abu, one question more — 
Dost think that, though this body dies. 
From dust it shall some day arise 

And live forevermore? " 



32 SWEE T AL YSSUM. 

Stooping from mid the herbage gray, 
He drew a shapeless ball that lay 

Just at the river side; 
A mass of leaves all curled and brown, 
Like those that chilled by winter's frown, 

In some rude hollow hide. 

Placing it where qach rippling wave 
The withered roots might gently lave. 

He said, " My brother, know, 
Our Father's God, this truth hath showed 
^ To Ishm^el's sons, when He bestowed 
The Rose of Jericho! " 

Its home it makes in desert sand. 

There blooms and dies. No human hand 

Removes that shrivelled coil, • 
But, o'er it sweeps the simoom strong 
On wings of wind 'tis borne along 

'Till lodged in holy soil. 

** Now let my brother mark the rose! '' 
We waited, day began to close, 

Longer the shadows grew; 
And, o'er the slopes of Olivet, 
The sun, as royally he set. 

Threw many a radiant hue. 

Then, lo! the coiled roots unwound, 
Each tiny leaflet late embrowned, 

Soft living tints assumed; 
And, like some corpse restored to breath, 
Type of Christ's triumph over death, 

Anastatica bloomed! 



OCTOBER. 33 



OCTOBER. 

KING'S messengers are now upon the hills, 
Their golden crowns amid the sunset gleam, 
And all that crimson blaze that clouds we deem 
Is trail of purple robes. Earth throbs and thrills 
'Till a like splendor all the forest fills; 
And in the east the late wild roses seem 
Lingering to watch that glorious western beam, 
Who comes? Who comes? Some conqueror dread 

who wills 
With show of pomp to cloak the work of death? 
Nay, nay, 'the Lord our Righteousness,' his name; 
'Eternal Life,' his heralds all proclaim; 
This to his subjects he doth freely give. 
"Live, live forever," — hearken what he saith, — 
" Live, live forever; come to me and hve." 



34 SIVEE T AL YSSUM. 



ALEXANDER AND JADDUA. 

THE Conquer comes! so rang the fearful cry 
Around Jerusalem. Each encircling hill 
Made mournful echo, and a shuddering sigh 

Swept through the olives of Gethsemane, until, 
Filling each street, it hushed the city's hum — 
He comes in wrath! The Conqueror has come! 

All through the day the temple courts were thronged 
With worshippers, and high the heavenward flame 

Of sacrifice uprose, with prayer prolonged 
'Till midnight hours, yet no deliverance came — 

God of our fathers! Israel's strength and stay! 

Wilt Thou forsake us in this direful day ? 

Grey morning dawned, and in their midst appeared 
The high priest Jaddua, who, with tears, had 
sought 
Jehovah's guidance. Gladly, he declared 

A heaven sent dream had this strange message 
brought: 
** Go forth to meet the foe! Wear robes of state! 
Adorn the city! Open wide each gate." 

On came the mighty Macedonian host 

Which twice had overcome proud Persia's power; 
Phenicians, Chaldeans, aye, those ranks might boast 

Each race had yielded them its martial flower; 
The prospect place was reached, called Sapha, where 
In after-years fell Jesus' pitying tear. 



ALEXANDER AND JADDUA. 35 

What wondrous sight there burst upon their gaze! 

A throng of people clothed in garments white, 
And foremost Jaddua. 'Neath the noontide rays 

The golden plate upon his breast gleamed bright, 
Showing God's name. A purple robe he wore 
And his broad brow the sacred mitre bore. 

The Syrian kings, then, greatly joyed to see 
Those hated Jews; for, soon, like mighty Tyre, 

Low in the dust Jerusalem would be. 

" Had not these people roused the conqueror's ire 

When they refused the Persian oath to break 

And a new league with Alexander make?" 

Not long o'erjoyed, but angered and amazed 
When leaving them, the worshipped prince drew 
near. 

Saluted Jaddua, on his breast plate gazed, 
And praised the Holy Name engraven there — 

" Why shouldst thou, whom all the other men obey. 

Unto this Jewish high priest homage pay ? " 

So questioned they, Parmenio at the head. 

' ' No priest I worship, but that gracious God 
Whom he adores," then Alexander said, 

"For ere the soil of Asia I had trod, 
" In Macedonia, still of doubtful mind, 
" One came to me in vestments of this kind. 

* 'Twas in a dream, and thus the vision spake: 
" Make no delay, but pass beyond the sea; 

** God destines thee Darius' power to break 
** And thou shalt conqueror of all Asia be. 

" Now, when this priest in the same garb I view, 

"Assured I feel the promise shall be true." 



36 SWEE T AL YSSUM. 

Back through the city gates all passed in peace 

And to the temple Alexander led 
To offer sacrifice. Jaddua, to increase 

His faith in heaven, there from the prophet read 
How God had shown to Daniel, years before, 
The four-winged leopard should the bear o'erthrow. 

Then onward went the glorious young Greek, 

Nor blood, nor rapine only, marked his course; 
Where'er he passed, still art and learning speak 
" Of him who planted there their earliest source 
So, like some prophet, he prepared a way 
Where holy Paul should bear the Gospel ray. 



THE WHITE ROBE, 37 



THE WHITE ROBE. 

"And they shall walk with me in white; for they are 
worthy." — Rev. Ill, 4. 

9 'T^ WAS winter, the earth lay brown and bare, 
1 Save in snug little hollows here and there, 
Green mosses and ferns were nestling near 

Each crevice of clay or stone; 
And on rising ground in the fallow field, 
Stood holly and oak that are wont to wield 
'Gainst the nipping frost a leathery shield, 
Though the winds oft made them moan. 



Other bushes and trees were leafless all. 

For the life of the plant in early fall, 

Fled back to the stem until spring should call 

To each slumbering bud, " Appear ? " 
And the flowers, throwing their petals down, 
Curled into the seed-pods dry and brown 
And to visit the mother-root were gone, 

Weaving clothes for their summer wear. 



Then soft, still, slow, 

Suddenly came the snow. 

And lit the whole earth with unearthly glow; 

Filling the hollows everywhere, 

Hiding all that lay brown and bare, 

And the greenest old oak was glad to share 

This garment that shone so wondrous fair. 



38 SWEE T AL YSSUM. 

Soft, still, light, 

It fell all through the night: 

And the world that waked to the heavenly sight 

Seemed to sleep and dream of that crystal sea, 

Round the great white throne where the blessed be, 

Singing "Holy, Holy," eternally. 

Clad in robes that are freed from every stain 

In the blood of the Lamb that once was slain. 

A multitude out of every land. 
And the victor's palm is within each hand, 
For their Captain there by the Judge doth stand 
And his righteousness is the robe they wear. 
Grant, dearest Lord, ere with souls made bare 
Of earthly shams we shall each appear 
Before that throne, on Thy Name we call 
So that snowy robe may in mercy fall. 
Hiding, cleansing and covering all; 
Making us worthy to walk in white. 
By the crystal sea in the Land of Light! 



UNDER THE BAOBAB, 39 



"UNDER THE BAOBAB.' 

THERE, 'neath the torrid skies, 
Watched by no loving eyes 
All that was mortal lies 
Of Moffat's daughter; 
Like a true, English wife 
Shared she the toil and strife, 
For souls gave her life, — 
So love had brought her. 

Where the Zambesi flows 
Fed by the mountain snows, 
There, then, her grave they chose; 

Lianas now hide it. 
Under that giant tree, 
Noble old guardian he, 
Scarce we the mound may see, 

Rude cross beside it. 

Thick grows the jungle grass, 
Beasts from the river pass. 
Only their cries, Alas! 

Echoes there waken; 
Yet doth the stream he found 
Murmur with gentle sound 
That humble home around, 

Home, now forsaken. 

Where they together wrought; 
Livingstone healed and taught, 
Sharing his task, she sought 



40 SWEE T AL YSSUM, 

Cares, all, to lighten. 
'Till, through each tender vein, 
Throbbed the fierce fever pain ; 
No more, might she remain 

Dark days to brighten. 

Lone, then, he labored still 
Sowing the Seed until 
Glad, at the Master's will, 

Life he resigned. 
Borne o'er the ocean wide 
'Mid England's pomp and pride, 
Hero and Saint beside, 

His dust enshrined. 

Thus, though their ashes lie 
Sundered the ocean by, 
May meet their spirits nigh 

Afric's bright river. 
Bending in blessing o'er 
Those who, on that dark shore, 
Toil as they toiled before, 

Souls to deliver. 

Under the baobab tree 

Where scarce the mound we see. 

That woman's name shall be 

Murmured in blessing; 
And, many a martyr band 
Won from that heathen land 
There, by her grave, shall stand, 

Christ's cross confessing. 



TIVO SPINNEJ^S. 41 



TWO SPINNERS. 

SLOW, slow, such endless toil 
With threads in an even row, 
You spin so smooth, so soft, so fine. 
Friend, let me show you a brave design. 

No answer? Then off I'll go 
And leave you to wind your simple coil, 
Slow, slow, such endless toil! 

Nimble and quick, angle and curve, 
Spinning like mine doth praise deserve. 
I draw out my thread, now low, now high, 
And a web stands outlined against the sky; 
Then I wait and watch, and 'tis not so long. 
Ere is heard the hum of the insect throng. 
Nimble and quick, angle and curve. 
Spinning like mine doth praise deserve. 

Well, ah! well, your work will stand 
Until swept away by a careful hand. 
The critic comes, you are fallen, crushed. 
And that buzzing of praise is forever hushed. 
Tis so when a spinner of cobwebs dies. 
Naught but the end of his catching flies. 

And how will my fellow craftsman fare 

Who has wrapped himself in his cocoon there? 

A glorious change that burial brings 

For the toiling grub will have gained his wings, 



42 SWEET ALYSSUM. 

And his work remains. Reel off the floss, 
Pure shining gold, not a sign of dross! 
This gives one patience for working slow 
With no pattern of brave design to show; 
So I weave content, little cocoon mine, 
Though the world is praising yon cobweb fine. 



SC/CCBSS. 43 



SUCCESS. 

I FANCIED her a fair and flower-crowned maid 
Compassed with rosy Hght, 
And at her shrine youth, hope, and fortune laid; 
She never blessed my sight. 

So passed the years, and I, grown old and gray, 

Thought not her wreath to wear. 
For death had borne the loving friends away, 

Who joyed my joy to share. 

'Twas then a calm-eyed, low-voiced woman came 

That dreary hour to bless. 
I gently greeted and besought her name: 

Smiling, she said, "Success." 



44 SWEE T AL YSSUM. 



THROUGH LEAFLESS BOUGHS. 

THE golden glories of yon beechen grove, 
Amid whose spreading boughs November 
strove 
To hide in that bright veil the shafts of death 
Flung with each falling of her frosty breath, 
Lie in brown heaps or rustle o'er the plain 
At wind's wild will, and branches bare remain! 

Now stands revealed, a lovely glimpse of sky 
The leafy screen had hidden from our eye, 
Clear blue at noon; at even's earliest hour 
Flushed with the soft pink of the almond flower, 
And palest purple, such as violets show 
Which in their native home mid mosses grow. 

Dreams born of earth, fall with life's autumn day; 
Some rudely break, some ripen to decay; 
Through leafless boughs we look beyond and see 
That home of light, that waits the soul set free; 
Friends smile upon us who have passed before — 
When such the gain, who would lost years deplore ? 



THE ORGAN. 45 



THE ORGAN. 

I STOOD where all the nations of the earth 
Had gathered all their gifts, in the far South 
By the great river's curve. And, there beheld 
Sights such as make the old grow young once more 
In spirit, freshened by the flood of ideas new 
That come to swell the ebbing tide of thought; 
The young grow old with glimpses of the vast, 
Far-reaching field of knowledge spread before. 
Sound, too, was there, all sound. The mighty roar 
Of steam, the giant slave, who toils to-day 
Like blinded Samson with his locks outgrown, 
A people's sport and then a people's woe; 
Mixed with the voice of man, the hum of wheels, 
The chime of bells, and strains from Aztec land. 
Played by her white-plumed band. Yet all seemed 

lost 
In harmony that moment when the keys 
Of the great organ, 'neath the master's touch 
Sinking, set free the air in those great tubes. 
And Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Mozart lived again 
In heavenly symphony and wordless song. 
While yet that echo lingered in my ears. 
At home, I turned the German poet's page 
And wove his legend into English rhyme. 

****** 

Cecilia was a maid of ancient Rome 
\yhose gentle heart, seemed framed for Music's 
home, 



46 SIVEE T AL YSSUM. 

And long, she sought, from each vibrating string, 

Those melodies to bring 

That with unspoken rapture filled her saintly soul. 

To her the faintest sound of living thing 

In tuneful waves would roll. 

Then sighing softly at devotion's hour, 

Cecilia prayed sweet heaven would grant her power 

To hear aright that wondrous song of praise 

Which all the creatures raise, 

A blessed angel who was hovering near, 

Stooped, as he sped upon the Master's ways, 

And smiling, touched her ear. 

Oh, ecstasy untold! 

As those once blind behold 

When first restored to sight 

Form lost in maze of light. 

So, with one mighty voice. 

She heard the earth rejoice; 

Heard living creatures all 

Upon each other call 

To magnify the Lord. 

Yet every tone was heard 

Of fish, or beast, or bird. 

The midge's tiny wing 

Its tribute come to bring, 

Faint rustling sounded o'er 

The lion's loudest roar. 

And though each sound was there 

Of earth, or sea, or air, 

Their burden was the same; 

" Praise ye the Lord and magnify his Name! " 

Great oaks and lofty pines. 

And graceful drooping vines, 



THE ORGAN. 47 

The violet of the vale, 

Queen lilies red and pale; 

Nor sensate things alone, 

For every clod and stone 

Would sound a loved " Amen." 

And grand the chorus when. 

Strong wind and gentle breeze 

Made harps of giant trees, 

Waves dashed upon the shore 

Waking a wild uproar. 

Soft, sweet, slow, 

Floating down below, 

Down the celestial stairs 

The music of the spheres 

That poets oft have sung 

In measured cadence rung. 
The smallest orb that round the empyrean moved 
Called on its sun to magnify the Lord. 
No discord there, for even wrathful word 
And groan of pain mixed with that strain was heard 
But as a needed counternote to joy and praise, 
Its perfect sweetness seeming yet to raise. 
All must be harmony where all is tuned 
To the great master-chord of Endless Love. 



Too soon it died away, creation's song. 
Then sought the maid the memory to prolong, 
"Oh that the echo with us, yet, might stay ! " 
The heavenly herald heard her gently pray. 
Then, one well-skilled in handiwork, he sought 
Inspired like Bezaleel who wondrous wrought 
In Sinai's wilderness, at God's command. 
And lingering near him, led the willing hand 



48 SWEET ALYSSUM. 

With reed and stop to fashion fittingly 
A wondrous frame replete with harmony; 
That every separate sound of earth, sea, air, 
Might find some chord or note responsive there. 

Again with praise all heaven and earth seemed 

stirred, 
Again creation's song Cecilia heard. 
** How shall I call this ? " she enraptured cried — 
The angel still stood smiling at her side — 
''What name bestow on instrument so rare? " 
' * Call it, "he said, ' ' What thou didst seek in prayer, 
Devotion's Organ. Let each soul express 
Through this, its praise, its longing, its distress, 
And that of other souls breathed through it hear 
In sympathy. May never earth-bound spirit dare 
To make these heaven-sent harmonies respond 
To sound of base delight or pleasures fond." 



Cold, dead, that heart that at the organ peal 
Can feel no holier impulse o'er it steal 
To drown all earthly care. 
Yet ne'er that heavenly echo conies to bless. 
Filling the inmost soul with melody, unless 
God's Angel touch our ear. 



RIVER MURMURS. 49 



RIVER MURMURS. 

MIC HE Sepe! Prince of Rivers! 
Flowing onward to the sea, 
Though thy silver surface quivers, 

As the moonbeams dance with glee, 
Those dark currents down below 
Ever whisper words of woe! 

From the lake that marks thy rising 
To the gulf that meets thy mouth. 

From the northwest, enterprising, 
To the orange-blossomed South, 

Men have come to make their graves 

With De Soto and his braves. 

Now reveal to me, great river, 
Tales of this and other days, 

While I watch the moonbeam's quiver 
As it with thy ripple plays ? 

Hark! the river murmurs so. 

Now of joy and now of woe! 



50 SIVjEB T AL YSSUM. 



THE REVENGE OF THE CRAY-FISH. 

WHERE those lone live oaks are standing 
In that spreading sugar field, 
Near the bank beside it landing 

Boats to bear the luscious yield, 
Once was seen a planter's home, 
" Peering through their boughs, green dome. 

With low roof but broad and shaded. 

Wide verandas all around 
Which the mock-bird's song invaded, 

Symphony of sweetest sound; 
In a garden gay with roses 
Two fair children gathered posies. 

When from all the fields were wending 

Loaded wains of sugared freight, 
When the orange boughs were bending 

Burdened with a golden weight. 
Busy hands while cutting canes 
Sang their lively harvest strains. 

Then tv/o merry children playing 

By the river's muddy brim. 
With pin-hook and line were slaying 

Such small fish as near it swim; 
Shouting wildly with delight 
When they took the fatal bite. 



THE REVENGE OF THE CRAY-FISH. 51 

More than all the ugly cray-fish 

Was uplifted with applause, 
For it furnished them a rare dish 

With its fat and juicy claws; 
Better bisque than lobster gumbo, 
Not these children only, thought so. 

Soon the mill began its grinding 

And the carrier swift to run, 
Then these careless playmates, finding 

Promise there of greater fun. 
Left the cray-fish, now, to swim 
Calmly near the river brim. 

But while Httle lips were sipping 

The sweet cane juice running off. 
And while little hands were dipping 

Cuite from out the cooling trough. 
Vengeful cray-fish down below 
Were swift swimming to and fro. 

Spring is here! the bee is humming 

Wakened from his winter's rest, 
And the swallow now is coming 

In the eaves to build his nest, 
Sweet, the blooming orange trees, 
Perfume every passing breeze. 

List! the plough-boy's merry singing 

Chiming with the cattle bell, 
And the children now are bringing 

Pale blue violets from the dell. 
Coming home with glowing faces. 
Breathing hard for running races. 



52 SWEET AL YSSUM. 

Now the melted snow is making 
Torrent of each tiny stream 

And the ice above is breaking 

'Neath the spell of warm sunbeam, 

Then the unchained waters flow 

Swelling that full tide below. 

Soon the men are busy mending 
The high levee all around, 

That their river-front defending 
Keeps the water within bound, 

But those cray-fish down below 

Still swim swiftly, to and fro. 

And an old grandame is saying 
To the young fish at her side: 

•* While our enemies are playing 
We make entrance for the tide. 

Many drills may sunder mountains. 

Little holes can open fountains. 

** Courage, then! with steady boring. 
By to-night, our work is done, 

And the uncaged river, roaring. 
Shall, before another sun, 

Bear those children on its waves. 

Far beneath to watery graves! " 

Night has come, the stars are beaming 
On two little golden heads, 

And the children sweetly dreaming. 
Nestled in their downy beds: 

Dreaming o'er their happy hours 

Passed amid the birds and flowers. 



THE REVENGE OF THE CRAY-FISH. 53 

Hark! what sound the stillness breaking, 

With a sudden gleam of light, 
Those sweet sleepers rudely waking 

In the darkest hour of night ? 
Hear the dreaded signal pass. 
This the cry, Crevasse! Crevasse! 

Hear the frantic mother screaming: 
"Oh! my children! where are they ? " 

By the lantern's fitful gleaming, 
Little feet have lost their way. 

And the waves, that fitful night 

Bear them swiftly from her sight. 

Gone, that happy home's foundation, 

Gone, the vines and orange trees: 
On the spot, a cane plantation 

Overlooked by live-oak trees, 
And beneath those currents deep, 
Two fair children sweetly sleep! 



54 SWEE T AL YSSUM. 



THE STEAMBOAT RACE. 



SPLENDID were those palace-packets, 
Ere the war between the states, 
None though like that second Natchez 

And the Lee, those rival mates; 
Bold the captains, clerks, and pilots, 

Famed for kindliest chivalrie, 
But none loved like Thomas Leathers, 
And John Cannon of the Lee. 



'Twas still June in Eigh teen-seventy 

When both thronging stream and shore, 
Were the eager waiting thousands. 

Signal scarcely given before 
Swung the ax, her ropes were severed, 

And a well trained eye could see. 
Though they seemed to start together, 

Gained two minutes had the Lee. 



Now were men all betting heavy, 

While the women wildly waved. 
Colored folk e'en risked their quarters. 

Children, dimes from candy saved; 
And the rivals steamed by bravely 

('Twas a glorious sight to see). 
They had no freight, but passengers, 

Were forty on the Lee. 



THE STEAMBOA T RACE. 55 

And among them walked one proudly, 

Like a millionaire just made, 
For he held his shoulders squarely 

As some soldier on parade. 
So we looked on him with wonder, 

But the cause soon learned when he 
Came escorting a fair lady 

Up the cabin of the Lee. 

Now this bride was tall and slender, 

Dark her coronal of hair, 
Dainty mouth, and eyes that sparkled 

With a light so blue and clear 
That it seemed like sunshine stolen 

From the cavern at Capri; 
And we said, good luck came with her 

To the steamer Robert Lee. 

When we swiftly steamed by Natchez, 

By fair Natchez on the hill, 
All her citizens were cheering, 

Cheered for Leathers with a will; 
But a group of small truck-farmers 

Had left plow in crop, to see, 
And every coarse-clad veteran there 

Was hard betting on the Lee. 

Then said some they greatly angered: 

"Will you go against the town? 
Men, mark you not yon warrior 

With tomahawk and frown ? " 
And quick one answered, ' ' Stranger, 

Yes, the figure-head I see. 
And brave Injuns was them Natchez, 

But we fought with old Bob Lee. ' ' 



56 SWEET AL YSSUM. 

Both made halt at war-worn Vicksburg, 

'Mid her terraces so green, 
The loud guns roared out a welcome 

As those racers trim were seen, 
Helping hands for both were ready, 

'Twas some test of fealty 
Between their sister city Natchez 

And the loved old leader Lee. 

We could rest no more till Memphis, 

With our rival still in sight, 
^ On we sped, white wakes behind us, 

Like sea-meteors in the night. 
Stopped the other to put coal on 

We towed coal along, you see; 
Then good luck was ours; remember. 

For that bride was on the Lee. 

So one hour ahead at Cairo, 

And still gaining on the way, 
Until we reached St. Louis early 

Morn of Independence Day. 
We had won, and loud they cheered us, 

But it gave no pain to see 
When the Natchez made her entry, 

She had welcome like the Lee. 

And they gave their city's freedom 

To each captain with his crew — 
Some fair ladies have grown weary 

While I told this story true, 
Of the last race on the river, 

(Such a race you ne'er will see), 
Between Tom Leathers' second Natchez 

And her mate, the R. E. Lee. 



ROCHE A D AVION. 57 



ROCHE A DAVION. 

IN that alcove scooped amid rising cliffs 
By nature's hand, safe float the skiffs; 
There no rude winds blow, no wearing shock 
Of beating waves against outstretched rock. 
Ere white men claimed all this wide domain 
And gained it often by deed of shame; 
Here the Tunicas dwelt. On yonder hill 
Some stately trees spread their branches still; 
Green as of old 'neath that grateful shade 
Creeps the cheerful grass with its tender blade, 
But their wigwam town that crowned its crest 
Is forever gone. Gone that symbol blest 
Which once on the highest bluff appeared. 
The cross of wood, Father Davion reared, 



Not for dreams of gold or fame, their home 
Those Fathers left 'mid these wilds to roam. 
The world was Christ's, so his name they bore 
Through forests drear to a dreary shore. 
Davion, the priest had his work begun 
Amid the howling tribe of the sun 
Whom we Natchez call. They gave no heed 
Too fierce and too proud for the gospel creed, 
So he wandered here and a welcome found; 
At eve would the Tunicas gather around 
Filled with silent awe. Then might be seen 
Chief, papoose, and squaw, on the turfy green, 



58 SWEE T AL YSSUM. 

Stretched or standing erect while good Davion spoke 
The message of peace from his pulpit-oak. 
Their savage souls with soft wonder stirred 
Would melt and glow 'neath that heavenly word. 
"Now," cried the faithful Father aloud, 
" Come confess and live who are contrite bowed;" 
To the shore near that frienely alcove led 
While the star of eve its faint lustre shed 
And the deep dark river more calmly flowed; 
There the sacred rite he, with prayer, bestowed. 
* * * * * * 

So years had passed when one morn was heard 
No sound of prayer, and no voice conferred 
The blessing of peace. There was Davion where 
So oft he had knelt, hands clasped in prayer, 
His hair in the sun gleamed silver white 
But the set face shone with a heavenly light. 
They laid him to rest near his own loved oak 
And long years after, old chieftains spoke 
Of the good White Father in tones of awe 
To the wondering youth. Then the wrinkled squaw 
Would her grandchildren often of Davion tell 
How he prayed for the sick and could make them 

well 
How his voice and his smile like new maize were 

sweet. 
How for days he ate nothing, no bread, no meat; 
And his spirit, they said, roved the old camp ground 
Where no wigwam ruin could now be found; 
When they saw it with hands as in blessing spread 
All the tribe knew, then, that some chief was dead. 



THE BROKEN ARRO WS. 59 



THE BROKEN ARROWS. 

'* C^ IVE us time our crops to harvest," 
V_J This the conquered Natchez pleaded, 

'* Ere we go new homes to make us." 
But their prayer was all unheeded; 

One moon only gave the white men, 

"Twenty days, and onward march then." 

So, out spake the chief. White Apple, 
•* We have borne but bear no longer. 

Gone our homes, now would they starve us, 
Those false white men, nay, but stronger 

Make our cause, oh, Great-Sun children! 

Call we on our brave red brethren." 

Swift then sped those Indian runners, 
Sought the Chickasaws and Choctaws, 

Of the Frenchman's falseness told them, 
Bade all rise in one great Race-cause; 

Quiver gave each tribe as token, 

Twenty arrows, to be broken. 

One each morning, this the signal. 
This the hour for joint uprising. 

On that day when in each quiver 
No whole arrow. Thus surprising, 

All those white men they would slaughter. 

Not so thought White Apple's daughter. 



6o SIVEE T AL YSSUM. 

From the fortress twelve miles southward 

Stood her father's tribal village, 
Fairest spot among the Natchez, 

Made more fair by care and tillage. 
There the young braves met most often 
For Stel-o-na's charms might soften 

Heart most savage. Stood those wigwams 
On the hillside, groves behind them 

Of the walnut, oak, magnolia, 

'Mid whose branches wild vines twined them. 

Round it ran a laughing clear creek; 

Fair the maid those braves would there seek. 

Like ripe chestnut-burr just bursting. 
Shone her bright eye neath its lid; 

Sweet her presence as the pine-grove 
When dim twilight day has hid; 

No vine rivalled her in wild grace. 

Must she love the treacherous pale-face ? 

Said De Mace, the girl's French lover, 
' * Twenty days your chiefs are granted 

Ere they leave their happy homesteads 
Crops that their own hands have planted." 

" Twenty days," she answered sighing, 

" Then will white men all be dying." 

So she gave him the dread secret, 
But they heard with scorn his story, 

Placed the young man in confinement. 
Blind those Frenchman with vain glory. 

To the temple then, at midnight. 

Stole Stel-o-na through the moonlight, 



THE BROKEN ARROWS. 6i 

Passed the guard who never hailed her, 
For he knew the chieftain's daughter 

Though her long dark hair well veiled her, 
Cared he not what errand brought her. 

From the roof, the painted eagles 

Stared like three blood-thirsty beagles. 

Passed the enclosing fence of pickets, 
From each stake a skull was grinning. 

Skulls of foemen slain in conflict; 
Thus the maid, her entrance winning. 

Stood beside the fire undying 

Where those fatal arrows were lying. 

Few were left, for onward marching 

Those brave allies to assist them; 
Should these come the others joining, 

Vain were white men to resist them; 
Arrows twain, in haste then taking. 
Broke the maid; thus earlier making 

For her tribe the bloody signal. 

So, before their friends could reach them 
By swift march, they rose in conflict, 

Rose on those white men to teach them 
How the Natchez now were stronger. 
Much had borne, would bear no longer. 

Slain then many a gallant Frenchman 

Ere the danger they discover. 
Slain De Mace, and true Stel-o-na 

Perished there with her French lover. 
But the Natchez power was broken. 
False were their allies to the token! 



62 SWEE T AL YSSUM. 



A CHEROKEE ROSE. 

THIS morn there opened in yon close-grown 
hedge 
Of glossy green, that *mid brown fields of sedge 

And barren boughs through winter gave us cheer, 
Five heart-shaped petals, cream-laid, white as snow; 
Wide ope'd that the large golden eye might show, 
As our field daisies shine when skies are clear. 

Pure pointed buds pierced the encircling green, 
The tender violets bowed as to their queen, 

Bright jasmine gaily yellow love knots tied; 
And from the gulf a breeze bore fragrance sweet, 
Tribute of orange groves, wherewith to greet, 

This Cherokee, we name Sequoyah's bride. 

Forgot the chief? Nay, where cold glaciers gleam 
Far up the snow-clad height, whose mountain 
stream. 

With roaring torrent, dashes in wild glee, 
Its crystal spray to meet the pale green dome 
Of feathery boughs. There in its fitting home. 

See the Sequoia, giant redwood tree! 

Far fitter this, than carved and fretted stone, 
His memory to enshrine who toiled alone, 

From savage, warlike aims the tribe to free, 
Letters he gave them, whence spread learning's ray, 
Home-love and arts of peace until this day. 
Noblest of Red men now, the Cherokee. 



SOUER MARGUERITE. 63 



SOEUR MARGUERITE. 

PERHAPS you remember Soeur Marguerite ? 
She has gone to the saints and the virgin blest 
Whom she served so well, for there ne'er confessed 
A purer soul, Pere Antoine would say, 
When at matins and vespers she knelt to pray. 
Ah! we knew her then but as maiden sweet, 
Like our Lady of Sorrows grew Marguerite. 

The orphan was placed at our convent when 
Her aunt went abroad, and her home was there 
For seven long years. 'Neath the tender care 
Of the Sacred Heart and its sisterhood 
Marguerite studied and grew both wise and good, 
But untaught in the ways and wiles of men; 
For of what avail was such knowledge then ? 

A learned maid and right skilled was she, 
Could from memory say near her missal through, 
And the life of each blessed saint she knew; 
Of noted events would right dates declare. 
Talked of places and products everywhere; 
Three languages spoke with great fluency, 
But the dear child's forte was embroidery. 

Why, the flowers would grow as 'neath midday sun 
When her little white fingers her needle drew, 
In satin or cross stitch the canvas through! 
She made finest lace, and would darn so well 
That the keenest eye scarce a flaw could tell. 
Oft would say: ' ' When my school girl life is done, 
I will take the vows and live here, a nun." 



64 SWEET AL YSSUM. 

On her f§te day Marguerite was seventeen, 
Then the uncle and aunt all at once appear; 
They will take her their city home to share. 
She wept and she prayed: " Let me soon return." 
But the guardians, angered her wish to learn, 
Said they soon would the child from such folly wean, 
When she New Orleans with its life had seen. 

But her love for the Sacred Heart was strong. 
Marguerite ne'er failed, 'mid that life so gay, 
Tct send us a letter on every sixth day. 
Opera music was grand, and she loved to dance. 
But still felt too shy at the stranger's glance; 
Some novels she read, and — was it so wrong ? 
For a love of her own she began to long. 

To St. Roch's she walked the right number of days* 
In his ivy-grown chapel her candle had burned, 
Bought a little St. Joseph. Then soon we learned 
What she wished for had come — not one lover, but 

ten. 
And she all untaught in the follies of men, 
With their flattering tongues and their worldly-wise 

ways, 
Would accept as a truth each light word of praise. 

And the one that she chose in true worth was least. 
But handsome and gay, and his suit so bold 
That the innocent maid could not long be cold. 
He was clever and rich, so both guardians bent 
An approving smile when they sought consent. 
We sent her a wreath that the dear old priest 
Had blessed. They left home, and all tidings ceased. 



SOUER MARGUERITE. 65 

When fourteen years passed, to the gate there came 

A woman pale, sad, whom no sister knew. 

Her hair was gray, but the eyes so blue 

Were large and clear. Then one, entering, said: 

"This is Marguerite, we have mourned as dead." 

And at once we saw that sweet soul the same. 

Through the sunken cheek and the shrinking frame. 

Her husband had ways that no wife could brook, 

So she left him alone to his wine and his play, 

And their only child he had stolen away. 

Search in vain for her daughter, both far and near. 

So the mother at last sought a refuge here; 

She lived with us then, and the vows soon took — 

You remember her.eager, questioning look ? 

'Tis strange, she would gaze the most earnestly 
At each girl that seemed near the age of ten, 
Though some sixteen years was her daughter then. 
Friends gave their aid, we renewed the quest. 
And found her at last, holy saints be blessed! 
Yonder fair-haired, blue-eyed girl you see. 
Please the Virgin, a nun shall this Marguerite be. 



66 SIVEE r AL YSSUM. 



THE JOGGLING-BOARD. 



YOUR terraced town by Centennial Lake,* 
"City " — beg pardon, friend, 
I like full well, though one's breath 'twill take 

Just climbing from end to end. 
In^street or home, I have nothing seen. 
With such pleasant memories stored. 
As yon well kept lawn, so smooth and green, 
And that bright red joggling board. 



My childhood's friend! In infant days, 

A cradle, where soon and late, 
Maum' Sabra sat singing quaint old lays, 

In the dear Palmetto State; 
Then, in after years, young playmates came 

When the board would bend and spring, 
With a joyous bound 'neath each childish frame, 

Our shouts made the echoes ring. 



There was one, a girl. She only nine, 

While I was "going-on" ten. 
Whose seat somehow was oft nearest mine. 

And, as often, it happened when 
For greater fun all agreed to stand. 

Not easy to balance so, 
I would seize and keep my neighbor's hand. 

And she never murmured " No." 



THE JOGGLING-BOARD. 67 

A college lad, then, abroad I roam 

To return a S. T. B. 
And the sweetest vision of coming home 

Was that neighbor I longed to see. 
I found her, my simple blue-eyed girl, 

The belle of our native town. 
When I left she gave me a golden curl, 

Now, her hair was chestnut brown. 

One evening, eager to learn my fate, 

I paused at the gate and said, 
" Shall we take a draft at the old well, Kate, 

For the sake of days that are fled ? " 
Soft she answered, " Yes." No cup we brought. 

Naught so sweet as the good, old gourd; 
All yet unsaid, then — happy thought— 

"Let us sit on the joggling-board." 

For there it stood, and right down we sat, 

But no joggle, no hand in hand; 
She, demure and distant; I, finding that 

Not a word could my voice command. 
It was Kate herself, who the silence broke 

With some thought of the childish days. 
Her tone was sad. Then I quickly spoke, 

*• Oh, could we thus stand always! 

" As we stood in the happy days of old. 

My hand still clasping yours. 
And joggle through life "—when once 'tis told 

How the heart all its love outpours! 
A gentle start and an awkward spring 

From the board — you suppose she fell ? 
Why, what should a man then do but fling 

His right arm around her ? Well, 



68 SIVEE T AL VSSUM. 

You know the rest, for you've seen my wife. 
Is not Tom a splendid boy ? 

Young man, there is nothing hke married life- 
He's so pleased with that new toy — 

Our girl will be ten the coming year. 
Like her mother with youth restored, 

She is coming at last; see, Kate, my dear, 
Here's a genuine joggling-board! 



THE CHINA TREE. 69 



THE CHINA TREE. 



AMID the groves of our Southern land, 
More broad to spread and more firm to stand 
And fairer of form we see, 
Magnolia shining with chaliced bloom, 
Green oak and grave cypress, t)^pe of gloom. 
But I'll sing the China Tree. 

When the settler comes and a clearing makes. 
He smooths the ground and he drives his stakes 

Where the future abode must be; 
But before a plank of the floor be laid 
He will plant all around, for a pleasant shade, 

The swift-growing China Tree. 

Not the spreading beech, 'twill uproot the grass, 
Not the oak that allows no sun to pass 

When dark winter days must be. 
Cedar nor pine, for they both will wear 
Such seedy coats through the closing year; 

Choose the cheerful China Tree. 

Now the house is built, two years are flown. 
And to stately height has the sapling grown. 

Green feathery tufts bears he; 
With spring we hear murmuring of the bees. 
They busily hum as sweets they seize 

From the honey-bloomed China Tree. 



70 SIVEE T AL YSSUM. 

Then come baby Bessie and maiden May 
Beneath its cool shade on the grass to play, 

Now each has a necklace, see; 
What need of coral or beads of glass ? 
When a string through the purple flowers they pass, 

Lilac tubes of the China Tree! 

Green berries are here for the bloom is fled, 
And that shedding time is the housewife's dread; 

Where can Warren and Thomas be ? 
A pop gun souds; Don't you hear the noise? 
A jolly time you are having my boys, 

Up there in the China Tree. 

Sad Autumn now with soft tinted skies. 

All her bright hues saved for the woodland dyes; 

Yet with liberal hand doth she 
Bring the primrose suit for our friend to wear, 
No Gum nor Sumac looks gayer there 

Than this yellow-plumed China Tree. 

All have left it at last, even withered leaves, 
But the dry brown berry in bunches cleaves 

Where blossoms were wont to be. 
And whenever there comes a winter rain. 
Over each little ball will a drop remain, 

On the brown-berried China Tree. 

They shine in the sun and he colors them, too, 
With rainbow tints, as his rays pierce through; 

'Tis a glorious sight to see. 
It is time to rest, with your year's work done, 
So sparkle you may, in the winter sun, 

Oh, jewel-hung China Tree! 



OUR MARGARET. 71 



OUR MARGARET. 

ONE summer morn, from dreamless sleep I 
woke, 
In a fair vale where winds the Roanoke, 
And sought the field. There early spiders spun 
Their gauzy snares, that sparkled in the sun 
With dewdrops caught where wanton flies should be, 
Which ox-eyed daisies gaily smiled to see. 
These, all unlike their English sisters shy. 
That greet the dawn with blushing lid and eye 
Half-closed, oped wide their pure white rays. 
And met the glowing orb with steady gaze. 
Upon a rock that offered friendly rest, 
Then sitting down, my rustic hat I dressed 
With daisies bright, and plucking, idly thought 
Of Goethe's Marguerite; soon fancy brought 
Visions of women who have borne that name, 
Whose praise still lingers on the lips of fame. 
At ancient Antioch, see, in dungeon cast 
A Roman maid. ' * Deny this Christ! ' ' they cry, 
•'Recant! Recant! Adore the gods, or die! " 
• ' Then welcome Death ! " She glories in the flame, 
And legends say this flower received her name. 

Years roll away; now, wrecked on Scotia's shore, 
An English bark. The Saxon hope it bore; 
For friendly Fate the Atheling's sister leads 
To Malcolm's arms, and sows, through her, the seeds 
Of Christian lore amid these mountains wild. 
In Norway next, I see Valdemar's child 



72 SWEE T AL YSSUM. 

Three kingdoms join. Alas! twas all in vain 
Your noble work, great Daughter of the Dane! 
Wearing a sweet rose stained with bloody strife, 
Poor guiltless flower! comes Henry's warrior wife. 
The struggling Church seeks shelter in Navarre 
With Francis' sister, Angouleme's bright star, 
And free Italia, 'mid her vineyards green. 
Bows loyally to Humbert's lovely queen. 
Thus, one by one, the shadows come and go. 
As memory moves the mirror to and fro. 
Wearied at length of courtly pomp and pride, 
"Now bear me home," to Fantasy I cried. 
"There, well I know, some dainty Marguerites 

dwell. 
Pure pearls, that all these radiant gems excel! " 
Smiling, she led me to my own sweet South, 
Where Miche Sepe seeks, through many a month. 
The Atlantic sea. 

There a fair city lies, 

'Mid orange groves, beneath the sunniest skies. 
I saw one moving through the bustling street, 
A form each passer gladly paused to greet. 
No crown she wore, no aureole of saint 
Shone round her head, no artist sought to paint 
That homely face. Her simple words declared 
No mental worth, nor flash of wit appeared. 
What.then, her charm ? What this strange woman's 

spell ? 
The needy know, the orphan child can tell. 
Of lowly birth, still truest lady she, 
In Saxon style, and all humanity 
Her household was, for loaves she gave to all. 
The poor and suffering never yet did call 



OUR MARGARET. 73 

In vain to her. The struggUng parish church; 
The widow's friend; those who, to succor, search 
The homes of want; they who their pure Hves spend 
Soothing the sick, or gently rear or tend 
The motherless; all sought this woman's aid. 
She gave them bread, for 'twas by bread she made 
The means to live, and these poor brethren raise. 
Woman of wealth, a worker all her days! 

I looked again, that form no more appeared; 
But, in the city's midst, I saw, upreared, 
A sculptured stone and that strange marble bore 
No hero's form, but seated as of yore 
Knitting in hand, a leaning orphan near, 
Margaret the Good seems ever smiling there. 



-)(- 



74 SWEE T AL YSSUM. 



THE ANGEL OF GETHSEMANE. 

LUKE 22: 43. 

THY glory great as Gabriel's, when, from 
heaven, he bore 
The wondrous tidings of a Saviour's birth, 
Qr princely Michael's, who, in conflict sore, 

Met and o'ercame the Enemy of earth; 
Called to convey, thou blest, unnamed one, 
The Father's message to the suffering Son! 

Be a like mission mine, to seek some heart 

In its Gethsemane of sin and shame 
When heaven seems lost, when friends and fame 
depart, 
Then, whispering peace, hope, pardon, in the 
Name 
Of One who drank that cup, e'en from the brim, 
So cheer His own, as thou didst strengthen Him! 



FOR MY DEAR LOVE. 75 



FOR MY DEAR LOVE. 

AN OPAL. 

FOR my dear love I long to bring, 
Some rare and dainty offering; 
I'll steal a rainbow from the sky, 
To paint my joy when she is nigh; 
The fairness of her form to sing, 
I'll mount me on a poet's wing; 
Through winter frost, each flower of spring 
Shall speak and tell her how I sigh 
For my dear love. 

Nay, nay, this is but loitering; 
See, here, a tiny rounded thing. 
Where all sweet shades imprisoned lie. 
Her blush, the flowers, the rainbow sky 
Now, I will set this in a ring, 
For my dear love. 



76 SIVEE T AL YSSUM. 



SUB ROSA. 

I WILL tell you of something that no one knows; 
Of something that happened under the rose. 
A gay little bird lighted there one day, 
And sang, full of love, a roundelay; 
And a bud just peeped from its sheath of green, 
Tc listen and wonder what this might mean. 

" When he comes again, in the twilight dim," 
Said the bud, ** I will open my heart to him." 
So it shook its petals apart and blushed. 
Till each crumpled fold to the center flushed, 
And sweet perfume whispered of what might be 
When the bud was blown from its calyx free. 

But the bird came not; there were fairer flowers, 
And buds in plenty more rare than ours, 
And, ere the sun on the dewdrops shone, 
She lay drooping and dead, a bud half blown, 
That might never its perfumed heart disclose! 
I have told you what happened under the rose. 



A MISTAKE. 77 



A MISTAKE. 

BECAUSE I knew she loved me, 
And 'twas so sweet to see those wistful 
eyes, 
Half-veiled to hide their secret from surprise, 
Aside I turned, and, with a courteous care, 
Concealed the truth from her I held most dear, 
Because I knew she loved me. 



I know she must have loved me! 
Yet, when at last, my passion all confessed, 
I sought to strain the dear one to my breast, 
"Nay, nay," she smiling, said: "too late, too 

late," 
Then showed another's ring. Ah, cruel fate! 

And yet, I know she loved me. 



78 SIVEE T AL YSSUM. 



THE LOST MAGNIFICAT. 

"T HEARD not Our Lady's song, to-night." 
1 In sad reproach, the vision spoke, 
And the bhssful dream of the chorister broke. 

Who joyed at the heavenly sight. 

IT was in an abbey of ancient day, 

Where the pious monks in their simple way, 
Would at Angelus often sing, 

The Magnificat, that glorious hymn. 

Sweet would it sound through the cloister dim 
And amid the old arches ring. 

It chanced one day that a stranger came 
Journeying by from some town of fame; 

A skilled musician was he. 
With voice well-trained high notes to trill. 
And the deepest tones of the bass to fill. 

Sure ne'er was such melody! 

Our pious monks had no envy; they 
To each other said, in their simple way, 

"Ah, now for once, our favorite hymn, 
Shall be fitly sung." So they seek the guest 
And gladly he grants, as they request. 

Then, when twilight gathered dim. 

He led them in the Magnificat, 
With a well-trained voice — Remember that! — 
And each note gave cadence true. 



THE LOST MAGNIFICAT. 79 

But his thoughts! "How these rustic folk do 

stare, 
Such singing to them may be something rare, 
I must show them what I can do." 

Now other singers in awe are still, 

For that wonderful voice seems the space to fill. 
Yet the words! — Not one they hear. 

He sings, they listen, with one accord, 

But no spirit " doth magnify the Lord." 
No sound soars to Heaven's high Ear. 

Father Francis hastened into his cell 
Alone on the wondrous strains to dwell, 

For song was his soul's delight. 
When, sudden, the chamber dark and still. 
Some presence seemed to enter and fill 

With a radiance clear and bright. 

He bowed his head; ** had the Mother heard. 
And a message of special grace conferred 

So soon by an Angel sent ? " 

Ah! no; for sad spake the vision bright, 
" I heard not Our Lady's song, to-night. 

For sweet at the sun's descent. 

When your hearts in their humble tribute blend, 
Each eve that hymn doth to heaven ascend; 

Yet pride would retard its flight. 

Your stranger guest, he sang loud and well. 
But each soaring note ever earthward fell. 

So we heard not your song to-night," 



8o SWEE T AL YSSUM. 

Then glad and thankful each after day, 

Our monks sang their hymns in the same old way, 
Though no wonderful voice was there, 

Through the treble and bass to quaver and trill; 

Their grateful hearts could the measure fill, 
Make it meet for the Master's ear. 



THE WINNING WAY. 



THE WINNING WAY. 

<<T WILL conquer this iron! " the sharp axe said, 

1 And with whack, whack, whack, 
Gave blow after blow that fell heavy as lead; 
But the bar of iron lay cold, black and dead, 
Seeming never the worse for the sturdiest hack. 
And the edge of the axe at last grew so blunt, 
That he gave up the strife with a weary grunt. 

*' Now leave it to me! " his bright neighbor cried, 
And with saw, saw, saw, 

He moved backward and forward from side to side; 
Ah! never so well had his temper been tried, 
For the motionless iron would show not a flaw. 
But its tormentor's teeth, soon grew broken and 

worn. 
And, "I fear 'tis in vain," he exclaimed with a 

groan. 



"Make way," said the hammer, "Let me give a 

knock! " 
With a Ha! Ha! He! 

But he lost his head at the very first shock, 
It flew off and lodged in an old wooden block. 
For the iron was too hard for that, you must see. 
When the three stood aside and were blushing for 

shame, 
" Will you please let me try," said the gentle flame. 



82 SWEE T AL YSSUM. 

With a scornful laugh, they all gave her place, 
And she curled, curled, curled, 
Round the hard black bar, with a fiery grace, 
'Till it melted and glowed in the soft warm embrace; 
Just as cold hearts are conquered by love in the 

world. 
And the callous and dull oft' by courtesy we gain, 
When the unkind and rude all have striven in vain. 



PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER. 83 



PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER. 

"Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy 
wages." 

QUEENLY daughter of the Nile, 
At whose changing frown or smile, 
Thousands joy or fear; 
Dost thou gaze with pity mild 
On the outcast Hebrew child. 
On the orphan's tear ? 

Vain the monarchs of thy race 
Strive with pyramids to grace 

Future rolls of fame. 
More than all their works of art, 
In this deed thy woman's heart 

Hath embalmed thy name. 

Daughters of a Christian land, 
Outcast babes on every hand, 

Look around and see; 
Shall, while thus a heathen shows 
Pity for an infant's woes, 

Thou unmoved be ? 

Colder than the Nilus wave, 
Drearer than a wat'ry grave, 

Earth with evil dark; 
Many human monsters vile, 
Fiercer than the crocodile. 

Wait each little bark. 



84 SWEE T AL YSSUM. 

Idlers in a fruitful land, 
Will ye in the market stand, 

Waiting to be hired ? 
Are ye not already bought ? 
Christ for you the conflict fought, 

On the tree expired. 

Come, if at the eleventh hour, 
Ere your life, as faded flower, 

Sees its setting sun. 
What though others long have wrought ! 
Rich reward your work hath brought, 

So it well be done. 

Hast thou money ? Wages give, 
So through others they may live 

Free from tempting need. 
Art thou poor ? A word, a smile, 
Give your time — a little while 

Sows eternal seed. 

Then, at the great reckoning day. 
Shall the loving Savior say 

Gracious words to thee; 
"As ye all these works have done, 
Fed and clothed each little one, 

It was unto me." 



L 



LIZZIE'S PICTURE. 85 



LIZZIE'S PICTURE. 

(E. A. B. AGED 2 years). 

IZZIE'S photograph they've brought me, 



Likeness surely hard to trace! 
How could any golden sunlight 

Picture such a pearly face ? 
I've no artist's glowing palette 

Nor the sculptor's chisel rare; 
Yet with hues that love hath lent me 

I will paint your portrait, dear. 

First the brow, pure as a snowdrop 

Blooming after April rain. 
But, replacing verdant touches. 

Here and there a violet stain, 
Then the cheeks like velvet rose leaves, 

White like Easter-lily's bell, 
Save where dainty little flushes 

Baby joys and sorrows tell. 

Sweet mouth pursed, a bud just opening 

To be kissed into the flower; 
Parted then its smiles disclosing 

Jewels fit for queenly dower. 
Hair that caught its gleam from morning 

Or the gladsome harvest moon, 
Fine as though 'twere just unravelled 

From some dainty spun cocoon. 

Eyes above whose dreamy azure. 
Snowy lids now softly creep, — 

Auntie was too slow and prosy 
Baby Lizzie's fast asleep! 



86 SWEE T AL YSSUM. 



THE RIDE. 

TOSS proudly your head, my beautiful bay, 
And canter carefully o'er the rough way, 
For fair is the lady that rides you; 
Fair is her face, though dark is her eye 
And dark, too, her hair as the dim midnight sky, 
But fair are the fingers that guide you! 

Does she know when she strokes you, my beautiful 

bay, 
When she touches your mane in that exquisite way, 

How my heart with envy is throbbing ? 
That, while o'er these lovely meadows I ride 
Through sunshine and shadow so close to her side, 

All my peace of mind she is robbing ? 

She says that she loves you, my beautiful bay, 
That you bear her so carefully o'er the rough way 

And answer so well when she guides you; 
Oh! what would she say if I told her that I, 
Would as willingly yield to be guided by 

The fair little lady that rides you! 



MICHAELMAS. 87 



MICHAELMAS. 

" To the pure heart every home is a Bethel, and every path of 
life a Penuel, and a Mahanaim." Rev, F. W. Farrar. 

MORN early morn! From every home around 
Comes cheerful echo; yet no answering sound 
Heard from the village church, 

No organ peal, no hymn to greet the day; 
'Till on the tower, we see a bird alight 
There, resting from his flight 
Beside the cross, he sings a matin lay. 

A small gray bird, dim as the dawn in hue, 
Embodied air; Air breathing through and through 
Each dainty plumed quill. 

And as he sings, forth from that slender throat 
The voices of the wind, all, seem to flow 
In cadence soft and low, 

Or in a quaver shrill, or lingering note. 

* * Venite, ' ' ' Te Deum, "how shall we word the lay ? 
We praise Thee, Lord, as angels do alway; 
'Tis done; "Amen! " "Amen! " "Amen! " 

Tracing that flight amid the encircling blue 
We still soar on, in thought, and pierce the skies 
'Till to our longing eyes. 

Visions of winged things seen wafted through. 

Visions like those to the Apostle shown ; 
The six-winged seraphim around the throne. 
The creatures mid the wheels, 



88 SIVBE T AL YSSUM. 

The princely Michael, and his warriors bright, 
And Gabriel, with those whose blessed place 
Is near the Father's face, 

Because Christ's little ones they guide aright. 

" I am thy fellow servant, worship God," 
We heed that warning in the sacred word, 
Yet on this chosen day. 

Would search the record of your blest employ. 
Ye shining guardians, who befriend us still; 
AVorking the Maker's will; 

E'en since the hour ye hailed with shouts of joy. 

This new-made world. Angels how oft appear 
To Abraham, Jacob — Lot would loiter near 
Sodom's accursed plain, 

They seize his hand and draw him from the doom; 
They, in the wilderness, sad Hagar cheer 
And show her water near; 

And when Elijah sleeps o'ercome with gloom; 

One brings him food, standing in Baalim's path, 
An angel with drawn sword proclaims God's wrath. 
Because he goes to curse. 

The chosen race. But, gladlier from on high. 
To serve the Incarnate One ye did descend 
And all His ways attend; 

No ladder needed then 'twixt earth and sky! 

And is the vision sealed ? Nay, grown more near! 
Unto the pure in heart, will still appear 
God's angels here below. 



MICHAELMAS, 89 

Where Love, Hope, Faith, abide, they smiling 
stand 
They take no outward form yet such may feel 
That presence o'er them steal; 

The hosts of heaven are, here, on every hand. 

As in Samaria, when the prophet prayed; 
His fearful follower by that prayer was made. 
With open eyes to see, 

God's chariots encompassed them around, — 
An angel struggles with each thought of ill 
And heaven re-echoes still 

Whene'er a wandering soul the path has found. 



90 SWEE T AL YSSUM. 



''THE WITNESS OF NINEVEH." 

" So the people of Nineveh believed God and proclaimed a 
fast."— Jonah 3-5. 

" The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this gen- 
eration and shall condemn it." — St. Matthew 12-40. 

IJsf Pul's great city there is feasting. 
For now the mighty king puts by his state; 
Beloved of Bel, True son of Nin the Great, 
His royal crown and sceptre laid aside, 
He sits amond his lords, the nation's pride. 
All garlanded with wreaths of fairest flowers. 
In song and wine they pass the careless hours. "♦ 

All through the city there is feasting. 

The gods around in bronze and ivory gleam. 

No word have they to break the festive dream. 

To guard the gate, the winged lions stand, 

No incense offered there by pious hand, 

i\o hymns of praise the sacred symbols greet, 

And lust and crime run riot in the street. 

"Yet forty days and Nineveh shall fall! " 

What harsh note mars their sweetest song ? 

What man is this that breaks through that gay 

throng ? 
Shrieking his fearful burden on before, 
" Yet forty days and all shall be no more. 
Thus speaks the great Jehovah, God most high, 
A ruined heap, proud Nineveh shall lie." 



''THE WITNESS OF NINEVEH:' 91 

Now, all through the great city there is mourning, 
Thus spake the king, for God had moved his heart, 
" Let every soul withdraw himself apart, 
For all have sinned. We, lifted up with pride, 
Our Gods their worship due have long denied; 
And, most of all, do they abhor the proud; 
Now mourn, and weep, and cry to them aloud. 



" Cry, too, unto the Hebrew God, for he 
Is great. He led his people through the sea, 
Have we not heard ? And how he overthrew 
Great kingdoms; how their enemies he slew? 
Yet he is merciful, he loveth not to curse. 
Haste now, to him your penitence rehearse. 
Call humbly on the Gods and mostly cry, 
Have mercy, Great Jehovah, God most high! " 

In each street of the great city there is mourning. 

Not men alone, but beasts must sack-cloth wear. 

And ashes now, not roses deck the hair; 

No wine they take nor dainty food, scarce bread 

May any eat, for so the king has said. 

And king, and lords, and people join to cry, 

** Have mercy. Great Jehovah, God most high! " 

In each home of the great city there is mourning. 
The children ask, " How long before that day 
That dreadful time, we heard the Hebrew say. 
Our city should be but a ruined heap ? " 
"Soon! soon! " reply the mothers as they weep. 
Ye helpless babes, come lend your voices, cry, 
" Have mercy. Great Jehovah, God most high! " 



92 SIVEE T AL YSSUM. 

Now in Pul's city there is gladness. 

'Tis come, 'tis passed, that dreaded, dreadful day! 

Their prayer is heard, God's wrath is turned away. 

And, while in grateful worship they rejoice, 

The angry prophet hears, far off that Voice, 

" Thou pitiest a weak gourd thou didst not rear, 

Then shall not I this glorious city spare ? " 



SEASHORE CAMP-MEETING. 93 



SEA-SHORE CAMP-MEETING. 

THE days since you left, dear Zuleika, 
So slowly and sadly had passed, 
That I sighed for a change, when, eureka! 
It came with the preacher, at last. 

Not that youngster, tall and ungainly. 
Who was on this circuit last year, 

Whose watery eyes strove, so vainly, 
To extinguish the glow of his hair. 

But a neat, little elderly person. 
And though prematurely I grant, 

My heart sprang to brother McPherson, 
When he spoke of camp-meeting to Aunt. 

Peggie Jones went the Sunday before, 
The Smiths must be then on the way, 

And we both never ceased to implore, 
'Till she promised to start the next day. 

So I smoothed out my pink muslin gown, 
And looped it up, this way and that. 

And twisted my ancient sundown, 
Into quite an a la mode hat. 

The sun was just over the trees, 
All aglow for his diurnal round, 

When we felt the first kiss of the breeze, 
And saw the blue waves of the Sound. 



94 SWEE T AL YSSUM. 

In a grove where green branches obstructed 
The ardor of midsummer rays, 

Were the tents — neat cabins constructed 
On the model of Mr. Carry's. 

The chapel, a shed in the centre, 

iSupported by numerous posts, 
A bugle now called us to enter, 

With sounds that might waken the ghosts. 

Here were hundreds of people collected, 
From the City, the Bay, and the Pass; 

And to many a stare was subjected, 
Your poor little piney woods lass. 

The singing, my dear, was just splendid! 

Not a choir with opera airs. 
Each voice with the melody blended. 

And then came the longest of prayers. 

We prayed for the hardened, the contrite, 
The wounded, the sick, and the sore; 

And that, vilest of all, might be pardoned, 
The sinners along the seashore. 

Then a brother stood up to exhort us, 
I heard not his place or his name, 

But I know the blest truths that he taught us 
From the holy book certainly came. 

His topic was "Self-Consecration," 
Of forsaking the pleasures of life, 

And I thought, ere he paused, my vocation. 
Was to be a poor minister's wife. 



SEA-SHORE CAMP-MEETING. 95 

Just then, through the crowd, what should greet 
me, 

But the glance of a clear hazel eye! 
And I knew who had come there to meet me. 

That my own Johnny Thompson was nigh. 

Oh! long, at the noon, did we linger 
In the shade near the mineral spring, 

'Twas there he placed on my finger, 
This dear little emerald ring. 

And I thought that night, ere I slumbered, 

Perhaps as a true, loving wife, 
I might with the chosen be numbered, 

Although not a martyr for life. 

But sleep overcame me ere seeming 

This question, so hard, to decide, 
And I wakened next morning while dreaming 

That you were the minister's bride. 



96 SWEET AL YSSUM. 



IN MEMORIAM. 

REV. ALEXANDER MARKS, AUGUST 28th, 1 886. 

«<T TE sleeps," some said with sighs, 
11 Watching in those dear eyes 
The Hght of earth grow dim; 

Yet, while the word they spoke. 

That soul to glory woke. 
No darkness, now, for him. 

At rest, so cold and calm. 
Hands folded palm to palm. 

Alas, ne'er, ne'er again, 
Our own shall feel their clasp, 
The firm, the friendly grasp! 

Hush! hear that other strain; 

** We rest not night nor day. 
But work His will alway, 

Angels and spirits blest; 
No weariness nor care; 
No pain can enter here; 

What need have we for rest ? ' ' 

"Adieu," on earth, was heard 
From hearts with anguish stirred. 

In Paradise, was sung 
"Welcome, thou soldier true. 
See place prepared for you 

The white-robed throng among! 



IN MEMORIAM, 97 

"Faithful in every trust, 
Thy armor shows no rust, 

But beareth many a trace 
That thou the cross didst share. 
The thorny crown didst wear, 

Come, now, His joy embrace! " 



Blue mountains that he loved! Each misty peak 
And grove just tinged with autumn's early glow! 

Point heavenward, to his sorrowing loved ones 
speak 
Of peace that passeth all things here below! 

And harps are heard, the trumps* triumphant sound, 
As ope the gates before the victor crowned; 
The rapture, there, no earthly tongue may tell, 
Faith sees and hears, then murmurs, "All is well." 



98 SIVEE T AL YSSUM. 



WADE HAMPTON'S DREAM. 

" I believe, as confidently as I do that I live, that the prayers 
of the people saved my life. I will tell you why — " 

BLEST is the memory of the dead 
Who for his fellowmen hath bled; 
Greater the hero, when 
Crushed by a weary weight of woe, 
He still will heavenly rest forego, 
And live for other men. 



Fierce fever throbbing through my veins, 
The body racked with cruel pains. 

The mind with sense of loss; 
I thought: Why longer seek to live ? 
What can the fairest future give 

To lighten such a cross ? 

List to the words that met my ears; 

" Live, General, for you people's prayers 

Are rising night and day; 
In every home throughout the State, 
The young, the old, the low, the great, 

For Hampton hourly pray." 

My sister, standing near my bed, 
The faithful pastor's words had read; 

Now kneeling by my side — 
*'Oh! brother, hear and rouse your will; 
Some earthly mission waits you still," 

With eager love she cried. 



WADE HAMPTON'S DREAM. 99 

I slept, and in the shadowy land 

Of midnight dreams soon seemed to stand 

Within a spacious room: 
There saw each district of the State; 
Old Beaufort, where I dwelt of late, 

Gleamed clearest through the gloom. 

Then, from the throng, one person grave 
Drew near to me; a touch he gave. 

And said: " These pray for you, 
Soldier and statesman, live, live, live! " 
His words seemed quickening power to give, 

I woke, as born anew. 

The life-blood, creeping through my veins. 
Gave strength to meet the cruel pains. 

Now, by God's grace, who hears. 
Live for these friends, I will, I will! 
Live for the cause of freedom still, 

Saved through my people's prayers. 



loo SJVEE T AL YSSUM. 



TARDY. 

WE strolled through the autumn woods alone, 
I was fair eighteen, you thirty-eight; 
The summer birds had all southward flown, 
For the coming of Love is sometimes late. 

I plucked from the frost- touched bough o'erhead 

A golden leaf in my hair to twine; 
" Nay, that is the wreath for me," you said, 

"Spring flowers for sunny locks like thine." 

I kept that leaf which now seemed dear, 
(The coming of Love is not always late). 

It was emblem of one, not "dry and sere," 
But wise and gifted and good and great. 

Yet you gave no sign till hope had fled 
And another came less slow to woo — 

Blithe, bonnie and brave. We were quickly wed; 
I was then nineteen, he twenty-two. 

Your note, received on my bridal morn. 
Said this — (Ah, me! how hard is fate!) — 

"At last, sweet one, I have risked your scorn." 
At last, faint heart! Too late, too late! 



DISSECTION. loi 



DISSECTION. 

AS man grows callous on the battle field, 
So, when — that nature's law be clear revealed, 
A corpse, late all aglow with vigorous life, 
Comes to be carved by cold dissecting knife, 
One loses soon the unnerving sense of awe. 
Yet, at our school a subject once I saw, 
The hand of veteran surgeon might have stayed. 
I think that evening we were, all, afraid. 

Five at my table for position drew; 
The head fell mine, its cover off I threw. 
We saw a girl, a maid scarce seventeen 
Dead but a week, no more, and fair and clean. 
Her bonnie hair braided each side came down, 
Tied with blue ribbon, locks of golden brown. 
Her soft skin all unmarred. So had the grave, 
And ghoul' s-hook sought that purity to save. 

Moving with care the silken band that bound 
Her slender throat, a locket there I found. 
A woman's face was pictured in one lid. 
Sweet, motherly, with eyes that seeming chid; 
The other held strange words for one so mild, — 
"God do with them as they with thee my child; 
— Mother." The^locket back we laid, 
And left that corpse untouched. We were afraid! 



I02 SWEET AL YSSUM. 



THE SILENT BELL. 

A LEGEND OF COLOGNE. 

IN the Fatherland stands a stately shrine, 
On the storied banks of the lovely Rhine, 
In Cologne, ancient town; 
JFive-hundred feet do its towers rise. 
And, from marble towers that pierce the skies, 
The sculptured saints look down. 

Look calmly down on the roofs below. 
On the men that are hurrying to and fro. 

Like grains of the desert sand 
By warm winds stirred, so small they seem. 
Beneath the shade of that poet's dream 

That was sketched by a master-hand. 

A dream of heaven, there, framed in stone, 
Through the toiling years to its fullness grown. 

Yet, wrought from one wondrous plan. 
And each pointed arch, as it seems to blend 
With the peaceful sky, bids the soul ascend 

Far, far from the haunts of man. 

'Tis a link that binds with the ages past 
That Gothic pile, so grand, so vast; 

For, begun with the fifth Crusade, 
Not till five centuries had flown. 
O'er cable came: "The final stone 

In the spacious dome is laid." 



THE SILENT BELL. 103 

"Now, from these towers," quoth the Germans 

proud, 
A mighty bell shall proclaim aloud 

Our noble Emperor's fame; 
So, quick in the furnace let us throw, 
The guns of bronze taken years ago. 

When we put proud France to shame! " 

The workmen framed a monstrous mould. 
Full fiftj'^-thousand pounds, we are told, 

Were wrought in that giant bell; 
And forth from the flames came a wondrous sight, 
A giant in size, but of strength so slight. 

It at once into fragments fell. 

One more they cast, and this stands the test. 
So heaven they think has the labor blest, 

And 'tis hung in the holy tower. 
Now, now must the Emperor's praise be rung — 
So, to wake the tones of that iron tongue 

Strive three-score men of power. 

It moves at length, but no sound is stirred, 
From the giant bell no voice is heard! 

Again, and again they try. 
Once, only once, as they labor so. 
There wakens a murmur, deep and low, 

A groan or a plaintive sigh. 

The "Silent Bell," as 'twas called that day, 
To those who beneath it meet to pray, 

This voiceless message bears — 
In no temple raised to the Heavenly King, 
Should a peal of praise and glory ring 

For the highest of earthly peers. 



I04 SWEE T AL YSSUM. 

Lord, cleanse Thy Church as Thou did'st of old, 
Cast from it all that is bought and sold; 

To Thy servant who worketh well. 
Grant, to give the glory alone to Thee, 
Lest his greatest gift should a failure be, 

Like the Emperor's Silent Bell. 



-)(- 



MUSIC. 

DA UGHTER of God, or BeliaVs slave, she stands 
With fading fillet bound or crowned with stars; 

And every soul^ as Music soft commands. 
Soars or descends, vaulting all earthly bars. 



-)(- 



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